What role should athletes play in our political dialogue?

On the next Your Call, we'll have a conversation with former Olympic sprinter John Carlos and sportswriter Dave Zirin about their book, The John Carlos Story: The Sports Moment That Changed the World. Carlos is famous for his politically-charged Black Power salute with Tommie Smith at the 1968 Olympics. How much power does a professional athlete have to speak out to the world beyond sports? And why do we listen? Join us at 10 or email us at feedback@yourcallradio.org. It's Your Call, with Matt Martin, and You.

Guests:
John Carlos, former Olympic athlete and co-author of The John Carlos Story: The Sports Moment That Changed the World

Dave Zirin, sports editor for The Nation and co-author of The John Carlos Story: The Sports Moment That Changed the World

Click to Listen: What role should athletes play in our political dialogue?

Why aren't Pro Sports Treated like Every Other Business?

On the next Your Call, we'll have a conversation about the subsidies and sweetheart deals government gives to sports teams. Why has our society decided pro sports teams get special treatment? Join us live at 11 or send us an email at feedback@yourcallradio.org. Why do cities and states cut generous deals for teams that they wouldn't with other businesses? It's Your Call, with Rose Aguilar and you.

Join us live at 11 or send us an email at feedback@yourcallradio.org. Why do cities and states cut generous deals for teams that they wouldn't with other businesses? It's Your Call, with Rose Aguilar and you.

Guests:
Andrew Zimbalist is the Robert A. Woods professor of economics at Smith College.

Dave Zirin, Sports correspondent for The Nation

Click to Listen: Why aren't Pro Sports Treated like Every Other Business?

Your Call 070909 Are bicyclists revolutionizing American cities?

Are bicyclists revolutionizing American cities? On the next Your Call we'll speak with political reporter Jeff Mapes about his new book Pedaling Revolution: How Cyclists Are Changing American Cities and SF Weekly political writer Matt Smith. San Francisco is about to implement their long delayed bicycle master plan building 34 miles of new bike lanes on city streets and removing hundreds of parking spaces. Send us an email at feedback@yourcallradio.org or join us live at 11 am. What would it take to get you out of your car and onto a bike? It's Your Call with Rose Aguilar and you.

Guests:
Matt Smith in San Francisco
Columnist and political reporter for the San Francisco Weekly, and an avid bicyclist.

Jeff Mapes in San Francisco
Senior political reporter for The Oregonian. He has covered Congress, state government, and numerous local, state, and national campaigns. He is also author of the blog, Mapes on Politics and the new book Pedaling Revolution: How Cyclists Are Changing American Cities.

Click to Listen: Are bicyclists revolutionizing American cities?

Your Call 041009 Media Roundtable

On the next Your Call it's our Friday Media Roundtable. This week the head of the Associated Press threatened to start charging Google, Yahoo and the Huffington Post for using AP stories. President Obama went to Turkey and Iraq, Iowa and Vermont legalized gay marriage, the 2009 baseball season began and the 2008 college basketball season drew to a close. We'll be joined by Robert Parry of Consortium News, Rekha Basu of the Des Moines Register, foreign policy analyst Gareth Porter and Dave Zirin, the first sports reporter for The Nation magazine. Where did you see the best reporting this week and where did it fall short? It's Your Call with Rose Aguilar and you.

Guests:
Rekha Basu in Des Moines
Columnist for the Des Moines Register

Dave Zirin in New York
First sports correspondent for The Nation Magazine and author of The People's History of Sports.

Robert Parry in Washington, DC
Founder and editor of Consortium News

Gareth Porter
Investigative journalist for nearly 40 years. He is author of Perils of Dominance.

Click to Listen: Media Roundtable

Your Call 092408 A People's History of Sports

How do sports and politics intersect? On the next Your Call, we'll have a conversation with Dave Zirin, author of A People's History of Sports in the United States: 250 Years of Politics, Protest, People, and Play. Sportswriter Zirin examines sports as a reflection of the political conflicts that shape American history. He profiles sports stars who have stoked the fires of war, corporate control, racism, sexism, and homophobia. What are the main differences between mainstream sports history and yours? It's Your Call with Sandip Roy.

Guest: Dave Zirin is the author of three books and a regular contributor to The Nation, SLAM, and the Los Angeles Times.

Click to Listen: A People's History of Sports